Well I’m currently surface mining stone off 79 and our property that we’re leasing Butts up to the management area. Thinking about using that to my advantage into getting deeper into the Woods? Not looking at “where to hunt” or anything. Just how is the deer population up that way?

In my opinion, the herd is poor.

Ain't seen a deer on skyline in 2 years.

IMO, not what it was several years ago. Some areas are still very good, some not so much. We gave a lease up 2-3 years ago due to poor sightings. But it was tough hunting. No good way to access it in the sm

Due to extreme overkill of does and button bucks the last ten years the places that hold deer are spotty at best. Just now figuring out Skyline is not Barbour county.

Truth. These doe massacres have decimated the deer herds in lots of places. And the DCNR thinks it's the best thing since sleeves in shirts.

Oh really...

Yes really.

That’s interesting. Guess I missed that one.

Why would zone c ever be introduced if the DCNR wanted to dramatically decrease numbers across the state? Seems counter productive to me but I could be missing something I guess.

Just so we’re on the same page, this what I’m referring to—>And the DCNR thinks it's the best thing since sleeves in shirts.

And just out of curiosity... which state biologist, admin personnel, or CAB member told you guys that? Sounds like you have it good authority...

I’ve just hunted it for the last 35 yrs and spend around 100 days a year on the place. Hunt with several others that have 50 plus yrs Skyline experience. The new land picked up the last several years has been managed a little better. Little and Big coon a even low gap are a shell of what they use to be. The deer and turkey populations are pitiful on these parts due to over harvest. Every hunt either sex with a rifle for years has destroyed the old part or basically land east of 79.
Its great if you hunt the side that’s getting managed. This past year either sex was greatly reduced for some reason?Auburn guys been up there for 2 years trying to figure out what happened to the turkeys. Loss of habitat from clear cutting without burning is the main thing that’s changed for the turkeys.

You had a place surrounded by Skyline that use to be a prime deer lease. Were y’all happy with your deer hunting?

No I wasn’t. It was terrible and I said a version of that above. I don’t disagree with any of your assessments except for where Wiley insinuated we are trying to decimate the population. That simply isn’t true.

Frank also had an event for folks to come voice their opinions on Skyline management last fall and I attended. I think there were 8 non-agency folks there. There are options for folks to address their concerns but nobody takes advantage of them.

Can we make it bow only..id be all over that

I don't want to throw napalm on a gas fire and try am saying this about as peacefully as possible: A lot of people do not trust the department or advisory board anymore and have given up. They see a meeting like this and shrug, with a "They won't listen anyway so why bother?"

Right or wrong, that's how it is.

Next time they have a voice your opinion meeting up there let us know. I would love to come tell them what I think

You’re absolutely right! But, we are trying to change that opinion but folks have to engage us through the avenues we as staff members have available to us. Slapping on keyboard to FB or aldeer will not help. We try at our seminars to open up but those meetings are scheduled for a specific purpose. The listening sessions we have are the place for open discussion. Because we have VERY limited participation at them we don’t have many. If folks would attend/participate I honestly think the dialogue would be much more open than you think.

You hunted there with us, you know exactly how I feel about it

I believe it would, too. I've attended some, many (many) years ago. I know they're not always enjoyable but they can be helpful. Overcoming the perception is going to be challenging, though.

Do you have any idea what methods were used to advertise these events? Is it possible to send mass emails to everyone that purchases a license? Just curious because about the only thing I ever read is aldeer and my email and I never heard about any meetings. (It could have been advertised where I could recognize it and I just didn’t)

I'm unsure if by merely buying a license you can automatically be sent emails. That would be the easiest way but companies-agencies-orgs have to offer an Opt-In/Out for emails. New GDPR regulations are making this "you have an option" deal even more stringent, all because of spammers.


The Huntsville news media doesn't publicize these and if they do, few people see it. The Scottsboro newspaper is limited in its reach but presumably would hit the main group of WMA users (but only if that group reads the paper). Ditto for any publications in Stevenson, Fort Payne and Guntersville. Any radio would be limited in reach, too.

Effective public relations includes effective media relations. That doesn't mean spending six figures to hire a Birmingham PR firm and have Muffy send cold-call emails hoping for a bite. It means actually having effective, professional working relationships with whatever news media is available in order to successfully get your news distributed.

The only way I hear about any DCNR announcements is via their emailed newsletter, which I think is sent monthly. I know there's a non-game public meeting at Monte Sano State Park next week I wanted to attend, but will be out of town. Saw that in the e-newsletter. There also is a weekly column that is emailed. Recipients have to sign up to receive those.

The joy riding during hunting season was something myself and several on here pushed against for a couple of years and they did something about it.The main man came up for a turkey hunt and saw for himself and the problem and it got fixed.